WWE Payback: Live coverage and results - 1st June, 2014

Lana came out next and once again picked on United States, and put over Russia and Vladimir Putin.

Rusev (With Lana) vs. Big E

Apparently Rusev is now from Moscow, Russia. Anyway, both men collided in the ring and went at each other, with both of them drilling each other with rights. Rusev got the better of the two and dropped Big E with a huge German suplex. Rusev connected with a crossbody in the corner but missed with the next, as the crowd chanted “We want Ziggler”. Big E then speared Rusev through the ropes onto the outside as both men went down.

Back in the ring, Big E covered Rusev for a nearfall. Rusev connected with a big superkickLana then ordered Rusev to end it, as Rusev locked Big E in the camel clutch and Big E tapped out.

Winner by submission: Rusev

Rating: * ¾

Analysis: That was a decent collision of the behemoth, but were given very less time, and wisely so as Rusev might not be able to go for more than 5 minutes. It ended as a squash, as Rusev picked up his first major victory.

Kofi Kingston vs. Bo Dallas

Bo Dallas cut a promo before the match about the Hawks losing their game, and asked the fans to Bolieve.

Before the bout began, the pyros went off as Kane came out. Bo Dallas escaped as Kane dropped Kofi with a boot and threw him out of the ring. Kane dropped Kofi with another big boot on the outside and brought him back into the ring, delivering a big chokeslam. Kane picked Kofi up once again and dropped him on his head with the tombstone piledriver.

Winner: No contest

Analysis: So in Chicago, the only way to get ‘heat’ is by putting down the local hockey team every time. I don’t know what the point of the whole thing was, as it didn’t make any sense.

Post the attack, Bo Dallas asked Kofi not to worry, and asked him to Bolieve. The crowd then started chanting “We Bolieve”.

RVD vs. Wade Barrett for the WWE Intercontinental championship

RVD made his way out first, following by Barrett who got a big ovation. Barrett said that he won’t let RVD win the match, and that he will put RVD down permanently.

.@WadeBarrett vs @TherealRVD on #WWEPAYBACK IN #WWECHICAGO #WWE pic.twitter.com/74492C3MaF

— Brooklyn Brawler (@brawlerreal) June 2, 2014

Both men locked up as the crowd chanted for RVD. Both men exchanged rights as RVD dropped BNB with a spinning heel kick, and the crowd started a dueling “RVD/Bad News Barrett” chant, as RVD delivered another thrust kick for a nearfall. Barrett stopped RVD with a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall. RVD caught Barrett with a baseball slide and threw him into the barricade. RVD then went for the high – risk spinning leg drop on the barricade and connected with it. The crowd started a “E – C – dub” chant as RVD brought Barrett back inside the ring.

RVD came down with a springboard leg drop for a nearfall. BNB came back with a huge kick to the gut and connected with a big boot, sending RVD flying outside the ring. Barrett then dropped an elbow on the outside. Barrett then delivered a running kick in the corner for yet another nearfall. Barrett dictated the pace of the match by locking RVD in a chinlock, but RVD came back with a spinning heel kick.

RVD dropped Barrett with a couple of clotheslines and connected with a kick. RVD then followed it up with a rolling thunder and went for the five star frogsplash but missed it. Barrett dropped RVD with the Winds of Change for a nearfall. Back at ringside, Barrett missed the bull hammer and hit the ringpost, and RVD took advantage with a DDT for a nearfall. Barrett got his knees to RVD’s gut and followed it up with the bull hammer to pick up the victory.

Winner and still the WWE IC champion: Bad News Barrett

Rating: ***

Analysis: That was a decent match that had the crowd involved. They were split between the two, and BNB retained the IC title as expected, which is the right move. It will be interesting to see where BNB goes from here.